My key too is stuck in the ignition, everything we have tried is not working. It is also running my battery down. I took to dealership this morning hoping it was nothing, and the dealership just called me back and told me that it was something in the shifting column that was bent, and it would cost around $ 350. I am angry. Also, you can shift the gears without your foot pressing the brakes or pushing in the button.

My key too is stuck in the ignition, everything we have tried is not working. It is also running my battery down. I took to dealership this morning hoping it was nothing, and the dealership just called me back and told me that it was something in the shifting column that was bent, and it would cost around $ 350. I am angry. Also, you can shift the gears without your foot pressing the brakes or pushing in the button.

Simply change gears and while parking, make sure to push hard all the way.

The car mechanism was not recognizing that the gear was on "park" because of the cold weather.Problem solved!
Simply change gears and while parking, make sure to push hard all the way.
The car mechanism was not recognizing that the gear was on "park" because of the cold weather.

3 Answers

I had the same problem w/ removing the key from ignition. Took my 2005 Cobalt to a car accessory specialist (XTREME Auto Restyling) in Columbia Maryland. Took the tech about a week to resolve, but he got me straight. Now that he knows what to do. Should be able to do the same day. Something about interupting/ bypassing the key solinoid. It's not a repair as he puts it, but a patch. I'm happy. Only cost me $75. The dealer wanted to replace the ignition for hundreds of dollars.

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It
can be faulty ignition lock cylinder. I suggest to wiggle the steering wheel
a bit and see if the key gets released out. If that is not helping
then first turn steering wheel to right and try removing the key, or next turn
steering wheel to left and see if you can remove the key.

----------

Spray
wd-40 in the ignition key hole and let it remain there for few minutes, after
that once again try to remove the key and see if that helps.

---------

But
if that is not helping then ignition lock cylinder has to be removed out and
key has to be manually removed.

-----------

For
more troubleshooting on these types of issues, I suggest you to refer the help
links mentioned below. Its the accurate solutions mentioned in it. That will
help you to narrow the problem: -----

It can be faulty ignition lock cylinder.I suggest to wiggle the steering wheel a bit and see if the key gets released out.If that is not helping then first turn steering wheel to right and try removing the key,or next turn steering wheel to left and see if you can remove the key.----------Spray wd-40 in the ignition key hole and let it remain there for few minutes,after that once again try to remove the key and see if that helps.---------But if that is not helping then ignition lock cylinder has to be removed out and key has to be manually removed.-----------For more troubleshooting on these types of issues,i suggest you to refer the help links mentioned below.Its the accurate solutions mentioned in it.that will help you to narrow the problem:-----Click the link below:------

You can remove the ignition module as a whole and Dis-Assemble it to remove the tumblers and get the key back that way. If your replacing the Ignition set anyway once you get the module removed you can install the new on and toss the old one. You can have the doors and trunk re-keyed by a locksmith to match the new key. Make sure you remove any key chain you have attached to the ignition key that is stuck and follow the removal steps for the ignition module. Should be fine.

1.Close the vehicle doors.2.Turn OFF the ignition.3.Remove the key from the ignition.4.Press and hold the driver side door lock switch in the UNLOCK position.5.Insert the ignition key into the ignition lock cylinder and remove the key. (Do not turn the ignition key in the lock cylinder.)6.Insert the ignition key into the ignition lock cylinder and remove the key. (Do not turn the ignition key in the lock cylinder.)7.Insert
the ignition key into the ignition lock cylinder. (Do not turn the
ignition key in the lock cylinder.) Leave the ignition key in the
ignition lock cylinder.8.Release the door lock switch. The vehicle will sound three beeps in order to verify the Program Mode has been activated.9.Press
the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons together on the keyless entry transmitter
and hold until the vehicle beeps twice to verify that the transmitter
has been successfully programmed (this take approximately 15 seconds).10.Perform the previous step to program up to four transmitters (including your old ones).11.Remove the ignition key in order to exit the Program Mode.

4. Press and hold the driver side door lock switch in the UNLOCK position until step 8.

5. Insert the ignition key into the ignition lock cylinder and remove the key. (Do not turn the ignition key in the lock cylinder)

6. Insert the ignition key into the ignition lock cylinder and remove the key. (Do not turn the ignition key in the lock cylinder)

7. Insert the ignition key into the ignition lock cylinder. (Do not turn the ignition key in the lock cylinder) Leave key in the ignition cylinder.

8. Release the door lock switch. The vehicle will sound three beeps in order to verify the Program Mode has been activated.

9. Press the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons together on the keyless remote and hold unitl the vehicle beeps twice to verify that the keyless remote has been successfully programmed. This may take approximately 15 seconds.

10. Perform the previous step (9) to program up to four keyless remotesm, including any old ones.

11. Remove the ignition key to exit Program Mode.

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IMPORTANT: Before entering programming mode, have in possession all of the remotes you will be using on the vehicle. Once you program the remotes , all previous codes will be erased from the memory. The other remotes will not be functional until you program the remotes again.1.Close the vehicle doors.2.Insert key in ignition and turn to ON (As far as you can without cranking engine)3.Turn ignition OFF and remove the key from the ignition.4.Press and hold the driver side door lock switch in the UNLOCK position.5.Insert the ignition key into the ignition lock cylinder and remove the key.| (Do not turn the ignition key in the lock cylinder.)

6.Insert the ignition key into the ignition lock cylinder and remove the key. (Do not turn the ignition key in the lock cylinder.)

7.Insert the ignition key into the ignition lock cylinder. (Do not turn the ignition key in the lock cylinder.) Leave the ignition key in the ignition lock cylinder.8.Release the door lock switch. The vehicle will sound three beeps in order to verify the Program Mode has been activated.9.Press the LOCK and UNLOCK buttons together on the keyless entry transmitter and hold until the vehicle beeps twice to verify that the transmitter has been successfully programmed (this take approximately 15 seconds).10.Perform the previous step to program up to four transmitters (including your old ones).11.Remove the ignition key in order to exit the Program Mode.

Remove steering column shroud(cover)and tap ignition barrel with small hammer while twisting key backwards and forwards,also turn steering wheel backwards and forwards sometimes this is enough to release key as the locking pins in barrel and the steering lock pin do sometimes jam.You will have to remove steering column shroud to replace ignition barrel if tapping/hitting it doesnt work anyway so its not a wasted effort.Good luck,let me know how it works out